Vehicle seat

ABSTRACT

A vehicle seat comprises a frame member, a plate-shaped support member, and a blower. The frame member includes a pair of opposed frames disposed opposite to and separately from each other, and a first connecting frame by which the pair of opposed frames are connected. The plate-shaped support member is disposed between the pair of opposed frames and configured to receive a load from an occupant. The blower is attached to the support member, and part of the blower is disposed on a side of the first connecting frame that is opposite to an occupant side thereof.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2017-058960 filed on Mar. 24, 2017, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The present invention relates to a vehicle seat including a blower.

2. Description of Related Art

A vehicle seat including a blower attached to seat springs slung betweenfront and rear frames of a seat cushion is disclosed in JP 2014-223836A.

SUMMARY

The blower disclosed in this prior-art document is attached to thecenter or its vicinity of the seat spring, and is thus liable to receivea load from an occupant seated on the seat.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle seat inwhich a load from an occupant can be made unlikely to be imposed on ablower.

It is another object of the present invention to increase a degree offlexibility in attachment of a blower.

It is yet another object of the present invention to effectively utilizea space inside a seat.

It is yet another object of the present invention to reduce vibrationsand noises associated with the operation of a blower.

It is yet another object of the present invention to reduce transmissionof operating noises of a blower to an occupant.

It is yet another object of the present invention to increase rigidityin an attachment structure for a blower.

It is yet another object to make a seat compact in size.

In order to achieve any of the above-mentioned objects, a vehicle seataccording to the present invention comprises: a frame member including apair of opposed frames disposed opposite to and separately from eachother, and a first connecting frame by which the pair of opposed framesare connected; a plate-shaped support member disposed between the pairof opposed frames and configured to receive a load from an occupant; anda blower, wherein the blower is attached to the support member, and partof the blower is disposed on a side of the first connecting frame thatis opposite to an occupant side thereof.

With this configuration, the load from an occupant can be supported bythe first connecting frame because part of the blower is disposed on aside of the first connecting frame that is opposite to the occupant sidethereof. Accordingly, the load from the occupant can made unlikely to beimposed on the blower.

The vehicle seat as described above may be configured to comprise abracket mounted on a side of the support member opposite to an occupantside thereof, wherein at least part of the blower is attached to thebracket.

With this configuration, the degree of flexibility in attachment of theblower can be increased. Since the degree of flexibility in arrangementof the blower inside the seat can be increased, the space inside theseat can be utilized effectively.

The vehicle seat as described above may be configured such that theframe member includes a second connecting frame which is disposedseparately from the first connecting frame and by which the pair ofopposed frames are connected, wherein the support member includes abridging wire by which the first connecting frame and the secondconnecting frame are bridged, and a plate-shaped plastic member formedintegrally with the bridging wire, and wherein the blower is attached tothe plastic member.

With this configuration, vibrations of the support member associatedwith the operation of the blower, and/or noises produced by thevibrations of the operating blower, can be made lower, in comparisonwith an alternative configuration in which the blower is attached to thebridging wire.

The vehicle seat as described above may be configured such that theplastic member includes a wall with which at least an impeller of theblower is covered as viewed from an occupant side thereof.

With this configuration, sound insulation against noises produced byrotation of the impeller can be achieved by the wall of the plasticmember; therefore, the transmission of operating noises of the blower toan occupant can be reduced.

The vehicle seat as described above may be configured such that theplastic member includes a boss protruding toward a side opposite to anoccupant side thereof, and wherein the blower is attached to the boss.

With this configuration, the degree of flexibility in attachment of theblower can be increased.

The vehicle seat as described above may be configured such that the bossis disposed on each side of the bridging wire in an opposing directionof the pair of opposed frames.

With this configuration, the blower laid astride a portion of theplastic member reinforced by the bridging wire is attached to both sidesof that high-rigidity portion, so that greater rigidity can be providedin the attachment structure of the blower.

In the vehicle seat as described above, the plastic member may have athrough hole in which a duct connected to the blower is disposed.

With this configuration, in comparison with an alternative configurationin which the duct is disposed around the support member, the seat can bedesigned to be compact in size.

The vehicle seat as described above may be configured such that theframe member is a cushion frame that constitutes a frame of a seatcushion, the pair of opposed frames being disposed separately from eachother in a lateral direction, and front portions of the pair of opposedframes being connected by the first connecting frame, wherein thesupport member includes, at a front-side portion thereof, an inclinedportion extending in an obliquely-frontward-and-upward direction, andwherein the blower is disposed under the inclined portion.

With this configuration, space-saving arrangement of the blower underthe support member can be realized, and the seat can thus be designed tobe compact in size.

The vehicle seat as described above may be configured such that theframe member is a cushion frame that constitutes a frame of a seatcushion, the pair of opposed frames being disposed separately from eachother in a lateral direction, and front portions of the pair of opposedframes being connected by the first connecting frame, wherein the blowerincludes a front-side portion attached to the bracket and disposed underthe first connecting frame, and a rear-side portion attached directly tothe support member.

With this configuration, the degree of flexibility in attachment of theblower can be further increased. Since the degree of flexibility inarrangement of the blower inside the seat can be further increased, thespace inside the seat can be utilized more effectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a car seat as a vehicle seat according to anembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a cushion frame and a support member.

FIG. 3 includes: (a) a diagram showing bridging wires and reinforcingwires; (b) a top view and (c) a side view showing crossover(s) of asecond longitudinal wire(s) and a second transverse wire; and (d) a sideview showing crossover of a first longitudinal wire and the secondtransverse wire.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the support member.

FIG. 5 is a top view showing the support member.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line W-W of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged view of the support member.

FIG. 9 includes (a) a bottom view and (b) a rear view of the cushionframe and the support member.

FIG. 10 is a top view of a front-side portion of the support member anda pan frame.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line X-X of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of a frame contact portion and its vicinity ofthe support member.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a blower, a bracket and the support member.

FIG. 14 is a side view of the blower, the bracket and the supportmember.

FIG. 15 includes: (a) a top view of a support member according to amodified example; and (b) a sectional view taken along the line Y-Y ofthe drawing figure (a).

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)

Hereafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings. In the followingdescription, the front/rear (frontward/rearward), left/right(leftward/rightward; lateral) and upper/lower (upward/downward;vertical) directions will be designated with reference to a person(occupant) seated on the seat.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle seat in the present embodiment isconfigured as a car seat S for use in a driver's seat, a passenger seat,or the like, such as to be installed in an automobile, and mainlyincludes a seat cushion S1 and a seat back S2.

Inside the seat cushion S1, a cushion frame F1 (as an example of a framemember) as shown in FIG. 2 is incorporated, and constitutes a frame ofthe seat cushion S1. The seat cushion S1 is configured to have thecushion frame F1 upholstered with a pad material made of urethane foamor the like and an outer covering material made of fabrics, leather orthe like. Although not shown in the drawing, the seat back S2 includes aback frame that constitutes a frame of the seat back S2, and isconfigured to have the back frame upholstered with a pad material and anouter covering material.

The cushion frame F1 includes left and right side frames 11 as a pair ofopposed frames, a front frame 12 as a first connecting frame, a rearframe 13 as a second connecting frame, and a pan frame 14 as arestriction frame. In the present embodiment, the lateral directioncorresponds to “opposing direction of the pair of opposed frames”, andthe front-rear direction corresponds to “perpendicular directionperpendicular to the opposing direction (lateral direction) of the pairof opposed frames”. Also, in the present embodiment, the upper sidecorresponds to “occupant side”, and the lower side thus corresponds to“a side opposite to an occupant side”.

The left and right side frames 11 are elongate frames elongate in thefront-rear direction and are disposed opposite to and separately fromeach other in the lateral direction. Each side frame 11 is made of sheetmetal, and a portion adjacent to a peripheral edge thereof is so shapedas to extend laterally inward in cross section.

The front frame 12 and the rear frame 13 are disposed opposite to andseparately from each other in the front-rear direction, and constitute apair of connecting frames by which the left and right side frames 11 areconnected. To be more specific, the front frame 12 and the rear frame 13are made of metal pipe workpieces, and the front frame 12 connects frontportions of the left and right side frames 11. The rear frame 13 isdisposed rearwardly separately from the front frame 12, and connectsrear portions of the left and right side frames 11.

The pan frame 14 is another connecting frame by which the left and rightside frames 11 are connected, and is made of sheet metal. The pan frame14 is disposed to connect front end portions of the left and right sideframes 11.

A plate-shaped support member 20 is disposed at an inner side of thecushion frame F1 shaped like a picture frame, in other words, betweenthe left and right side frames 11. The support member 20 is a memberconfigured to receive a load from an occupant through a pad material(not shown) of the seat cushion S1, and includes bridging wires 100,reinforcing wires 200, and a plate-shaped plastic member 300. Thebridging wires 100 and the reinforcing wires 200 are wires, of which adetailed description will be given later, disposed between the left andright side frames 11. The bridging wires 100 and the reinforcing wires200 are wires made of metal. The plastic member 300 is made of plastic,and so formed as to cover the bridging wires 100 and the reinforcingwires 200 through insert molding process or the like by which thesewires are integrated with the plastic member 300.

As shown in FIG. 3(a), the bridging wires 100 are arranged to bridge thefront frame 12 and the rear frame 13. In the present embodiment, aplurality of bridging wires 100 are arranged in the lateral direction.To be more specific, the bridging wires 100 include left and right firstlongitudinal wires 110 as left and right first bridging wires, and twosecond longitudinal wires 120 as second bridging wires.

The left and right first longitudinal wires 110 are disposed separatelyfrom each other in the lateral direction, and each include a frontextension portion 111 and a rear extension portion 112 as an extensionportion, a bent portion 113, a front inclined portion 114, a fronthooked portion 115, a rear inclined portion 116, and a rear hookedportion 117.

The front extension portion 111 and the rear extension portion 112extend substantially in the front-rear direction. In the presentembodiment, the front extension portion 111 may be referred to as “firstextension portion”, and the rear extension portion 112 may be referredto as “second extension portion”.

The front inclined portion 114 extends from a front end of the frontextension portion 111 in an obliquely-frontward-and-upward direction,and the rear inclined portion 116 extends from a rear end of the rearextension portion 112 in an obliquely-rearward-and-upward direction.

The front hooked portion 115 is a portion to be hooked on the frontframe 12, and extends out from a front end of the front inclined portion114 substantially in a shape of an upwardly convexed segment of acircle. The rear hooked portion 117 is a portion to be hooked on therear frame 13, and extends out from an upper end of the rear inclinedportion 116 substantially in a shape of a segment of a circle.

The bent portion 113 is formed between the front extension portion 111and the rear extension portion 112 in the front-rear direction, and sobent as to protrude laterally outward, in a substantially U-shapedconfiguration, relative to the front and rear extension portions 111,112. As shown in FIG. 6, the bent portion 113 is located above a planePL extending through the extension portions 111, 112 of the left andright first longitudinal wires 110. In other words, the bent portion 113is so formed as to protrude in an obliquely-laterally-outward-and-upwarddirection relative to the front and rear extension portions 111, 112. Asshown in FIG. 3(a), the front extension portion 111 extendssubstantially frontward from one of laterally inner ends (i.e., thefront end) of the bent portion 113, while the rear extension portion 112extends substantially rearward from the other of the laterally innerends (i.e., the rear end) of the bent portion 113.

The second longitudinal wires 120 are arranged side by side between theleft and right first longitudinal wires 110, and each include anextension portion 121, a front inclined portion 124, a front hookedportion 125, a rear inclined portion 126, and a rear hooked portion 127.

The extension portion 121 extends in a substantially front-reardirection, and arranged substantially parallel to the front and rearextension portions 111, 112 of the left and right first longitudinalwires 110.

The front inclined portion 124 and the front hooked portion 125 areformed to have substantially the same shapes as those of the frontinclined portion 114 and the front hooked portion 115 of the firstlongitudinal wire 110, whereas the rear inclined portion 126 and therear hooked portion 127 are formed to have substantially the same shapesas those of the rear inclined portion 116 and the rear hooked portion117 of the first longitudinal wire 110. In the present embodiment, thefront hooked portions 115, 125 of the longitudinal wires 110, 120 may bereferred to as “hooked portion formed in the bridging wire”.

The reinforcing wires 200 are so arranged as to cross the bridging wires100 (first longitudinal wires 110 and second longitudinal wires 120) asviewed from above. In the present embodiment, there are a plurality ofreinforcing wires 200 arranged in the front-rear direction. To be morespecific, the reinforcing wires 200 include a first transverse wire 210and a second transverse wire 220 disposed in front of the firsttransverse wire 210.

The first transverse wire 210 consists of a single wire, and includes afirst wire portion 211 and left and right first support portions 212 asa first reinforcing wire, and left and right second wire portions 213 asa second reinforcing wire. The first wire portion 211 and the secondwire portion 213 are so arranged as to cross the extension portions 121of the second longitudinal wires 120.

The first wire portion 211 extends in the lateral direction. As shown inFIG. 5, the first wire portion 211 runs to detour around sciaticpositions SP corresponding to ischial regions of an occupant, and ispartly located on the rear side of the sciatic positions SP. To be morespecific, the first wire portion 211 includes left and right endportions 211A, intermediate portions 211B extending from laterally innerends of the respective end portions 211A and (as the first wire portion211 is bent at these end portions) directed inobliquely-laterally-inward-and-rearward directions, and a center portion211C extending in the lateral direction and connecting rear ends of theleft and right intermediate portions 211B. The center portion 211C islocated on the rear side with respect to the sciatic positions SP. Onthe other hand, the left and right end portions 211A are located on thefront side with respect to the sciatic positions SP. It is to beunderstood that the left and right end portions 211A may be located inthe same front-rear position as those of the sciatic positions SP. Inthis description, the sciatic positions SP are positions correspondingto the lowermost portions of the ischial regions of the occupant.

The first support portions 212 extend rearward from left and right ends(i.e., laterally outer ends of the respective end portions 211A) of thefirst wire portion 211 and (as the first support portions 212 are bentrearward from these end portions) are directed substantially in thefront-rear direction. Each of the first support portions 212 extendsalong the front extension portion 111 and the rear extension portion 112of a corresponding first longitudinal wire 110 substantially in thefront-rear direction, and is located under the front extension portion111 and the rear extension portion 112. With this arrangement, the firstsupport portion 212 serves to support the front extension portion 111and the rear extension portion 112 of the first longitudinal wire 110from below through the plastic member 300, and further to support thebent portion 113 from below through the front extension portion 111 anthe rear extension portion 112. As shown in FIG. 3(a), the firsttransverse wire 210 is so arranged that portions of the first transversewire 210 which cross the first longitudinal wires 110 (i.e., the firstsupport portions 212) are located under the front and rear extensionportions 111, 112 of the first longitudinal wires 110 while portions ofthe first transverse wire 210 which cross the second longitudinal wires120 are located over the second longitudinal wires 120. To be morespecific, the first transverse wire 210 is configured such that thecenter portion 211C of the first wire portion 211 and the laterallyinner end portions of the second wire portions 213 are disposed abovethe extension portions 121 of the second longitudinal wires 120.

The second wire portions 213 extend from rear ends of the first supportportions 212 and (as the second wire portions 213 are bent laterallyinward from these end portions) are directed in the laterally inwarddirections, and arranged adjacent the first wire portion 211 in aposition rearward of the first wire portion 211. To elaborate further,as shown in FIG. 5, the second wire portions 213 are located rearward ofthe center portion 211C that is a portion located rearward of thesciatic positions SP.

As shown in FIG. 3(a), the second transverse wire 220 includes a centerportion 221, first intermediate portions 222, second intermediateportions 223, and end portions 224. The center portion 221 extends inthe lateral direction, and disposed above the front inclined portions124 of the left and right second longitudinal wires 120 so as to crossover the front inclined portions 124.

The first intermediate portions 222 are bent and extend from left andright ends of the center portion 221 rearward, i.e., toward a directionto which one end (rear end) of each front inclined portion 124 ispointed.

The second intermediate portions 223 are bent and extend from rear endsof the first intermediate portions 222 laterally outward. The secondintermediate portions 223 are so arranged over the front extensionportions 111 of the first longitudinal wires 110 that laterally outerend portions thereof cross over the front extension portions 111.

The end portions 224 are bent and extend from laterally outer ends ofthe second intermediate portions 223 rearward, i.e., toward a directionto which one end (rear end) of each front extension portion 111 ispointed.

As shown in FIG. 3(b), the first intermediate portions 222 of the secondtransverse wire 220 are nonparallel to the front inclined portions 124of the second longitudinal wires 120 as viewed from above. By extension,as shown in FIG. 3(c), the first intermediate portion 222 crosses thefront inclined portion 124 as viewed from the left or right side.Herein, the front inclined portion 124 of the second longitudinal wire120 may be referred to as “first portion”, the center portion 221 of thesecond transverse wire 220 may be referred to as “second portion”, andthe first intermediate portion 222 of the second transverse wire 220 maybe referred to as “third portion”.

Turning to FIG. 3(d), the end portion 224 of the second transverse wire220 crosses the front extension portion 111 of the first longitudinalwire 110, as viewed from the left or right side, and thus is nonparallelto the front extension portion 111. Herein, the front extension portion111 of the first longitudinal wire 110 may be referred to as “firstportion”, the second intermediate portion 223 of the second transversewire 220 may be referred to as “second portion”, and the end portion 224of the second transverse wire 220 may be referred to as “third portion”.

As shown in FIG. 3(a), the plastic member 300 is configured to cover thebridging wires 100 and the reinforcing wires 200, and connects thebridging wires 100 and the reinforcing wires 200 together. To be morespecific, the bridging wires 100 and the reinforcing wires 200 are soarranged as to be kept out of contact with each other at crossovers, andspaced predetermined distances apart from each other, and thethus-spaced apart bridging and reinforcing wires 100, 200 in entiretyare covered with and connected together by the plastic member 300. Forthis purpose, the plastic member 300 (to be more specific, plasticmaterial of the plastic member 300) exist in gaps each formed between aportion of the bridging wires 100 which crosses the reinforcing wires200 and a corresponding portion of the reinforcing wires 200 whichcrosses that portion of the bridging wires 100.

As shown in FIG. 4, the plastic member 300 is configured to include abase portion 310, wire covering portions 320, mount portions 330, secondsupport portions 340, a front hook portion 350 as a hook portion, rearhook portions 360, and a pair of left and right frame contact portions370.

The wire covering portions 320 are portions with which the bridgingwires 100 and the reinforcing wires 200 enveloped therein are covered;in the present embodiment, the wire covering potions 320 havebead-shaped configuration which protrudes upward with respect to thebase portion 310 and the mount portions 330. The wire covering portions320 include first longitudinal wire covering portions 321 with which thefirst longitudinal wires 110 are covered, second longitudinal wirecovering portions 322 with which the second longitudinal wires 120 arecovered, first transverse wire covering portions 323 with which thefirst transverse wire 210 is covered, and a second transverse wirecovering portion 324 with which the second transverse wire 220 iscovered. In the present embodiment, the first longitudinal wire coveringportions 321 and the second longitudinal wire covering portions 322 maybe referred to as “bridging wire covering portion”, and the firsttransverse wire covering portions 323 and the second transverse wirecovering portion 324 may be referred to as “reinforcing wire coveringportion”. The wire covering portions 320 are configured such that thebridging wires 100 and the reinforcing wires 200 are connected withplastic interposed therebetween particularly in each of portions thereofat which the bridging wire 100 and the reinforcing wire 200 are crossedby each other.

The base portion 310 is a portion interposed between the left and rightfirst longitudinal wire covering portions 321, and so provided as toconnect adjacent first and second longitudinal wire covering portions321, 322 or adjacent second longitudinal wire covering portions 322. Thebase portion 310 includes a horizontal portion 311 and an inclinedportion 312 formed in a front-side portion of the support member 20.

As shown in an enlarged view of FIG. 8, the horizontal portion 311extends along the extension portions 121 of the second longitudinalwires 120, that is, substantially in the front-rear direction. On theupper surface of the horizontal portion 311, a plurality of ribs 313 areformed which protrude upward, and of which the direction of protrusionis thus the same as that of the wire covering portions 320. Each rib 313joins to the wire covering portion(s) 320 so as to be integral with thewire covering portion(s) 320. In other words, each rib 313 is soarranged as to extend from the wire covering portion(s) 320. With thisconfiguration, the plastic member 300 can be enhanced in rigidity, andthe support member 20 can be enhanced in rigidity accordingly.

In the present embodiment, the ribs 313 include first ribs 313A, secondribs 313B, and third ribs 313C.

The first ribs 313A are disposed between the front and rear firsttransverse wire covering portions 323 and extend substantially in thefront-rear direction. Each first rib 313A has one end (rear end) joiningto the wire covering portion 320, particularly to the rear firsttransverse wire covering portion 323 that is one of the wire coveringportions 320 located rearward (portion with which the second wireportions 213 are covered). The first rib 313A has the other end (frontend), and an upper surface so shaped as to incline in anobliquely-frontward-and-downward direction, so that the amount ofprotrusion of the first rib 313A from the upper surface of thehorizontal portion 311 (in other words, the height of the first rib313A) gradually decreases toward the front end. With this configuration,a touch of something stepped which would be produced by provision of thefirst ribs 313A can be reduced so that the feel of seating for a personseated on the seat can be made more comfortable.

The second ribs 313B and the third ribs 313C are disposed between thefirst transverse wire covering portion 323 and the second transversewire covering portion 324, and extend obliquely with respect to thelateral direction. Each second rib 313B has one end (front end) joiningto the second longitudinal wire covering portion 322 and the other end(rear end) joining to the front first transverse wire covering portion323 that is one of the wire covering portions located frontward (portionwith which the first wire portion 211 is covered). With thisconfiguration, the plastic member 300 can be further enhanced inrigidity, and the support member 20 can thus be further enhanced inrigidity. Each third rib 313C extends parallel to or perpendicular tothe second ribs 313B. In the present embodiment, a latticed pattern ofribs are formed by the second ribs 313B and the third ribs 313C betweenthe first transverse wire covering portion 323 and the second transversewire covering portion 324. With this configuration, the plastic member300 can be still further enhanced in rigidity, and the support member 20can thus be still further enhanced in rigidity.

The inclined portion 312 extends along the front inclined portions 114,124 of the longitudinal wires 110, 120 from the front end of thehorizontal portion 311 in an obliquely-frontward-and-upward direction(see also FIG. 14). As shown in FIG. 7, a seating sensor 30 is disposedon the upper surface of the inclined portion 312. The seating sensor 30is a known sensor for detecting the seating of an occupant on the carseat S. In the present embodiment, the seating sensor 30 is disposedbetween adjacent bridging wires 100, specifically, between the secondlongitudinal wires 120. To elaborate, the seating sensor 30 is disposedin a position at a center or its vicinity of the upper surface of theinclined portion 312 between the second longitudinal wire coveringportions 322. With this configuration, the seating sensor 30 is disposedbetween the rigidity-enhanced portions, of the plastic member 300,reinforced by the adjacent second longitudinal wires 120; therefore, therigidity in the mounting structure for the seating sensor 30 can beenhanced. At a center or its vicinity of the inclined portion 312, asubstantially rectangular first through hole 314 extending through upperand lower sides thereof is formed. As shown in FIG. 9, a harness 31extending from the seating sensor 30 is routed through the first throughhole 314, drawn out under the support member 20, then directedfrontward, and connected to a connector 32 attached to the pan frame 14.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the plastic member 300, each second longitudinalwire covering portion 322 includes a first covering portion 322A withwhich the front inclined portion 124 is covered, and the secondtransverse wire covering portion 324 includes a second covering portion324A with which the first intermediate portions 222 are covered, and thebase portion 310 includes a connecting portion 310A by which each firstcovering potion 322A and the second covering portion 324A are connected.As described above, the first intermediate portion 222 is nonparallel tothe front inclined portion 124; therefore, in comparison with analternative configuration in which the first intermediate portion 222 isparallel to the front inclined portion 124, the first covering portion322A and the second covering portion 324A connected by the connectingportion 310 are rendered unlikely to rotate relative to each other,because they are in contorted positions relative to each other. In otherwords, the plastic member 300 is rendered unlikely to deformparticularly at and around the connecting portions 310A. With thisconfiguration, the plastic member 300 can be enhanced in rigidity, andthe support member 20 can thus be enhanced in rigidity.

The mount portions 330 are plate-shaped portions constituting front-sideportions of the left and right side portions of the plastic member 300,and so provided as to extend from the front end portions of the left andright first longitudinal wire covering portions 321 laterally outward.The mount portions 330 extend in the front-rear direction along thefront inclined portions 114, 124 of the longitudinal wires 110, 120. Themount portions 330, in other words, portions of the plastic member 300on which no wire covering portion 320 is provided, have a plurality ofmounting holes 331 so formed as to extend through upper and lower sidesthereof. The mounting holes 331 are holes for use in mounting othermembers to the support member 20. Examples of other members to bemounted to the support member 20 may include, as shown in FIG. 9,harnesses 81-83 to be connected to electric components such as a motorand a sheet heater (not shown) installed in the car seat S. To be morespecific, the harnesses 81-83 are held in a harness clip 84 known in theart and are mounted to the support member 20 by claws (not shown) of theharness clip 84 getting engaged in the mounting hole 331. In this way,as the mounting holes 331 are formed in positions clear of the wirecovering portions 320, the mounting holes 331 for use in mounting theother members to the plastic member 300 can be provided with ease.Moreover, this is more advantageous as a structure for mounting othermembers, for example, in comparison with an alternative configuration inwhich a claw-shaped portion or the like adapted to engage with the othermember is formed in the plastic member 300, in that the support member20 herein can be prevented from having an undesirably complicatestructure. The harnesses 81-83 are connected to the connectors 85attached to the pan frame 14. The holes for use in mounting the othermembers may be provided any places as long as they are in positionsclear of the wire covering portions 320, for example, in the baseportion 310 and/or other portions.

As shown in FIG. 4, the second support portions 340 are substantiallyplate-shaped portions constituting rear-side portions of the left andright side portions of the plastic member 300, and so provided as toextend from the base portion 310 (specifically, the horizontal portion311 and the rear end portion of the inclined portion 312) inobliquely-laterally-outward-and-upward directions. The second supportportions 340 are configured to envelop and cover the rear end portionsof the front extension portions 111 of the first longitudinal wires 110,the rear extension portions 112 and the bent portions 113, the left andright end portions of the first transverse wire 210, and the endportions 224 of the second transverse wire 220. As shown in FIG. 9, ribs341, 342 protruding downward are formed on undersurfaces of the secondsupport portions 340. A plurality of ribs 341 extending substantially inthe front-rear direction are arranged in the lateral direction. Aplurality of ribs 342 extending substantially in the lateral directionare arranged in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 6, eachlaterally extending rib 342 has a substantially triangular shape asviewed from the front or rear direction, and extends from a positionlaterally outward of the laterally outer end of the bent portion 113 toa position laterally inward of the laterally inner end of the bentportion 113.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the present embodiment, each second supportportion 340 includes a first covering portion 340A with which the rearend portion of the front extension portion 111 of the first longitudinalwire 110 is covered, a second covering portion 340B with which the endportion 224 of the second transverse wire 220 is covered, and aconnecting portion 340C by which the first covering portion 340A and thesecond covering portion 340B are connected. As described above, the endportion 224 is nonparallel to the front extension portion 111;therefore, in comparison with an alternative configuration in which theend portion 224 is parallel to the front extension portion 111, thefirst covering portion 340A and the second covering portion 340B arerendered unlikely to rotate relative to each other, and the secondsupport portion 340 is rendered unlikely to deform particularly at andaround the connecting portion 340C. With this configuration, the plasticmember 300 can be enhanced in rigidity, and the support member 20 canthus be enhanced in rigidity.

The front hook portion 350 is a portion to be hooked on the front frame12, and has a laterally elongate substantially semicylindrical shape.The front hook portion 350 is a portion of the plastic member 300 (i.e.,plastic of which the plastic member 300 is made) with which the fronthooked portions 115, 125 of the longitudinal wires 110, 120 are covered.

As shown in FIG. 4, the rear hook portions 360 are portions to be hookedon the rear frame 13. The rear hook portions 360 include left and rightfirst rear hook portions 361, and a second rear hook portion 362disposed between the left and right first rear hook portions 361. Theleft and right first rear hook portions 361 are portions of plastic withwhich the rear hooked portions 117 of the corresponding firstlongitudinal wires 110 are covered, respectively. Similarly, the secondrear hook portion 362 is a portion of plastic with which the rear hookedportions 127 of the two second longitudinal wires 120 are covered. Asshown in FIG. 9 (a), (b), the harnesses 81, 82 are routed through a gapbetween the left first rear hook portion 361 and the second rear hookportion 362 on the rear frame 13. The gap between the first rear hookportion 361 and the second rear hook portion 362 forms a space recessedrelative to the upper surfaces of the first rear hook portion 361 andthe second rear hook portion 362; therefore, arrangement of theharnesses 81, 82 in this space can serve to reduce a touch of somethingstepped which would be produced by arrangement of the harnesses 81, 82.

As shown in FIG. 4, the frame contact portions 370 are portionscontactable with position restriction surfaces 14A (see FIG. 10) of thepan frame 14, which will be described later, from the laterally innersides thereof, and are provided at the left and right sides of the fronthook portion 350. To be more specific, the frame contact portions 370are configured to protrude at the left and right sides of the front hookportion 350 upward beyond the front hook portion 350. The frame contactportions 370 have, at the laterally outer sides of their front portions,contact surfaces 371 contactable with the position restriction surfaces14A of the pan frame 14.

As shown in FIG. 10, the pan frame 14 has a pair of position restrictionsurfaces 14A facing laterally inward. To be more specific, the pan frame14 includes a recess 14B at a laterally middle region of a rear endportion thereof; the recess 14B has a substantially U-shapedconfiguration which is recessed frontward, and left and right surfacesof the recess 14B provide the position restriction surfaces 14A. Theplastic member 300 (support member 20) is so disposed as to have itsfront end portion received inside the recess 14B, and the frame contactportions 370 are disposed adjacent to the laterally inner sides of theleft and right corresponding position restriction surfaces 14A. Toelaborate further, the contact surfaces 371 of the frame contactportions 370 are so located adjacent to the laterally inner sides of thecorresponding position restriction surfaces 14A as to face the positionrestriction surfaces 14A. The contact surfaces 371 and the positionrestriction surfaces 14A are each formed as an inclined surface which isinclined laterally outward toward a side (in the front-to-reardirection) on which the pan frame 14 and the support member 20 arearranged (i.e., toward rearward). As shown in FIG. 11, the frame contactportions 370 are so provided at the left and right ends of the fronthook portions 350 as to protrude therefrom upward beyond the positionrestriction surfaces 14A formed at the rear-side edges of the pan frame14.

As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 11, the pan frame 14 made of sheet metalincludes, at laterally outer sides of the recess 14B, plate-shapedportions 14C disposed on the laterally outer sides of the frame contactportions 370. The harnesses 82, 83 are disposed under the leftplate-shaped portion 14C. In the present embodiment, the harnesses 82,83 may be referred to as “electric wire(s)”. With this configuration,the harnesses 82, 83 are disposed under the cushion frame F1 having agreater rigidity; therefore, the harnesses 82, 83 that are elasticmembers disposed inside the car seat S can be rendered unlikely toreceive a force. The harnesses 82, 83 are held in the harness clip 86,and attached to the pan frame 14 by engagement of the harness clip 86 ina mounting hole 14H formed in the plate-shaped portion 14C.

As shown in the bottom view of FIG. 12, the plastic member 300 includes,at a front end portion thereof, an outer sidewall 381 and ribs 382.

The outer sidewall 381 constitutes a laterally outer wall of a front endportion (including a laterally outer wall of the frame contact portion370) of the plastic member 300.

The ribs 382 are configured to protrude downward, arranged to extendlaterally inward from the outer sidewall 381 which extends substantiallyin the front-rear direction, and shaped to be adjoined to the upperportion of the front hook portion 350. There are two ribs 382 arrangedin the front-rear direction, of which one is disposed in alongitudinally front position near the rear end of the inclined contactsurface 371 of the frame contact portion 370, and the other is disposedin a longitudinally rear position that is rearward of the longitudinallyfront position. The ribs 382 are configured to be located over the frontframe 12 when the front hook portion 350 is hooked on the front frame12.

As shown in FIG. 13, a blower 40 is disposed below the support member20. Although not illustrated in the drawing, the pad material of theseat cushion S1 has a plurality of air vents formed in the upper surfaceand air passages connected to the air vents; an outlet 40B of the blower40 is connected via a duct 50 (see FIG. 14) to the air passage. Withthis arrangement, the car seat S is configured such that air is causedto blow out from the upper surface of the seat cushion S1 when theblower 40 is actuated.

The blower 40 is, for example, a sirocco fan, and includes a housing 41,an impeller 42, and a motor (not shown) for causing the impeller 42 torotate.

The housing 41 includes a housing body 44 in which the impeller 42 andthe motor are housed, a tubular outlet portion 45 extending rearwardfrom the left end portion of the housing body 44, and plate-shapedfixing portions 46 extending outward from the housing body 44. At anupper surface of the housing body 44, an intake port (not shown) foradmitting air is formed;

at a rear end of the outlet portion 45, the outlet 40B for blowing outair is formed. The fixing portions 46 include a first fixing portion46A, a second fixing portion 46B and a third fixing portion 46C. Thefirst fixing portion 46A is so formed as to extend from the housing body44 in an obliquely-rightward-and-frontward direction, and the secondfixing portion 46B is so formed as to extend from the housing body 44 inan obliquely-leftward-and-frontward direction. The third fixing portion46C is so formed as to extend from the housing body 44 substantiallyrearward. Each fixing portion 46 has a through hole 46H formed therein.

The blower 40 is attached to the support member 20. To be more specific,the blower 40 includes a front-side portion attached via a bracket 60 tothe support member 20, and a rear-side portion attached directly to thesupport member 20.

The bracket 60 is mounted on an underside of the support member 20, andincludes a plate-shaped bracket body 61, bosses 62A, 62B, and throughholes 63A, 63B. The bracket body 61 has a substantially U-shapedconfiguration, and has an opening 61A formed therein in a positioncorresponding to the intake port of the blower 40, which opening 61Aopens upward, downward and rearward. Each boss 62A, 62B is so formed asto have a cylindrical shape protruding downward from an undersurface ofthe bracket body 61. The boss 62A is provided at a right side of a frontend portion of the bracket body 61, and the boss 62B is provided at aleft side of the front end portion of the bracket body 61. The throughholes 63A, 63B are holes extending through upper and lower sides of thebracket body 61. The through holes 63A, 63B are provided in suchpositions that the through hole 63A is disposed at a right side of arear end portion of the bracket body 61 and the through hole 63B isdisposed at a left side of the rear end portion of the bracket body 61with the opening 61A disposed therebetween.

As shown in FIG. 9, the plastic member 300 that constitutes the supportmember 20 includes right and left blower mount portions 390R, 390L towhich the blower 40 is to be attached. The car seat S consistent withthe present embodiment may be configured to have the blower 40 attachedto a position varying according to its specifications. To be morespecific, the blower 40 may be attached to either of the right blowermount portion 390R and the left blower mount portion 390L according tothe specification of the car seat S. For example, when the car seat S isto be installed as the right seat, the blower 40 may be attached to theright blower mount portion 390R; when the car seat S is to be installedas the left seat, the blower 40 may be attached to the left blower mountportion 390L. Since the configurations of the right and left blowermount portions 390R, 390L are substantially the same as each other, thefollowing detailed description will be directed mainly to the rightblower mount portion 390R.

The blower mount portion 390R includes, as shown in FIG. 13, a pluralityof cylindrical bosses 391 protruding downward from the undersurface ofthe plastic member 300. The bosses 391 include a first boss 391A, asecond boss 391B, and a third boss 391C. The first boss 391A, the secondboss 391B and the third boss 391C are located in positions correspondingto the apexes of a triangle as viewed from below. To be more specific,the first boss 391A and the second boss 391B are located in positionslaterally separated from each other; the third boss 391C is located in aposition rearward of the positions of the first boss 391A and the secondboss 391B and between the first boss 391A and the second boss 391B inthe lateral direction. The first boss 391A is located on the front endportion of the right mount portion 330; the second boss 391B and thethird boss 391C are located in positions on the front end portion of theinclined portion 312 between the right first longitudinal wire 110 andthe right second longitudinal wire 120. To elaborate, the first boss391A is located at the right side of the right first longitudinal wire110, and the second boss 391B and the third boss 391C are located at theleft side of the right first longitudinal wire 110. In other words, thebosses 391 are located at both sides of the right first longitudinalwire 110 in the lateral direction.

As shown in FIG. 9, in the left blower mount portion 390L, the firstboss 391A is located in a position on the front end portion of theinclined portion 312 between the left and right second longitudinalwires 120; the second boss 391B and the third boss 391C are located inpositions on the front end portion of the inclined portion 312 betweenthe left second longitudinal wire 120 and the left first longitudinalwire 110. To elaborate, in the left blower mount portion 390L, the firstboss 391A is located at the right side of the left second longitudinalwire 120; the second boss 391B and the third boss 391C are located atthe left side of the left second longitudinal wire 120. In other words,in the left blower mount portion 390L as well, the bosses 391A-391C arelocated at both sides of the left second longitudinal wire 120 in thelateral direction.

Hereinafter, one example of the way how to attach the blower 40 to thesupport member 20 is described.

As shown in FIG. 13, when the blower 40 is attached to the supportmember 20, first, the bracket 60 is attached at the lower side of thesupport member 20. To be more specific, the screw 91 is inserted throughthe through hole 63A of the bracket 60 and screwed into the first boss391A, and the screw 92 is inserted through the through hole 63B of thebracket 60 and screwed into the second boss 391B. Thereafter, the blower40 is attached to the lower sides of the bracket 60 and the supportmember 20. To be more specific, the screw 93 is inserted through thethrough hole 46H of the first fixing portion 46A formed in the blower40, and screwed into the boss 62A of the bracket 60, and the screw 94 isinserted through the through hole 46H of the second fixing portion 46Band screwed into the boss 62B of the bracket 60, so that the front-sideportion of the blower 40 is attached to the bracket 60. Similarly, thescrew 95 is inserted through the through hole 46H of the third fixingportion 46C formed in the blower 40 and screwed into the third boss 391Cof the plastic member 300, so that the rear-side portion of the blower40 is directly attached to the support member 20.

In the present embodiment, the blower 40 is attached, partly through thebracket 60, to the support member 20; therefore, in comparison with analternative embodiment in which the blower 40 in its entirety isattached directly to the support member 20, the degree of flexibility inattachment of the blower 40 can be increased. Moreover, as the degree offlexibility in arrangement of the blower 40 inside the car seat S can beincreased, the space inside the car seat S can be utilized effectively.

Particularly, in the present embodiment, part of the blower 40, i.e.,the front-side portion thereof, is attached to the bracket 60, and theblower 40 is thereby attached to the support member 20 through thebracket 60, and the rear-side portion thereof is directly attached tothe support member 20; therefore, the blower 40 can be attached in aposition under the front hook portion 350, which would be considered tobe a position in which a boss for attachment is not easy to provide.Accordingly, the degree of flexibility in attachment of the blower 40can be further increased. Also, the degree of flexibility in arrangementof the blower 40 inside the car seat S can be further increased, so thatthe space inside the car seat S can be utilized more effectively.

Since the blower 40 is attached to the plastic member 300, vibrations ofthe support member 20 associated with the operation of the blower 40,and/or noises produced by the vibrations of the operating blower 40, canbe made lower, in comparison with an alternative configuration in whichthe blower 40 is attached to the bridging wires 100 or other membersmade of metal.

Moreover, since the blower 40 is attached to the protruding bosses 391provided on the plastic member 300, the degree of flexibility inattachment of the blower 40 can be further increased in comparison, forexample, with an alternative configuration in which the blower 40 isattached to a flat surface of the plastic member 300.

Since the bosses 391 are located at the both sides of the bridging wires100, the blower 40 is attached to the plastic member 300 across thehigh-rigidity portion of the plastic member 300 reinforced by thebridging wires 100. With this configuration, the rigidity in theattachment structure of the blower 40 can be increased.

As shown in FIG. 14, the blower 40 attached to the support member 20 isdisposed under the inclined portion 312 of the plastic member 300 thatconstitutes the support member 20. With this configuration, thespace-saving arrangement of the blower 40 under the support member 20can be realized, and the car seat S in which the blower 40 is includedcan thus be designed to be compact in size. Herein, the blower 40 isdisposed to have the front-side portion thereof located under the frontframe 12 made of metal.

As shown in FIG. 9, the inclined portion 312 of the plastic member 300has second through holes 315 extending through upper and lower sidesthereof in positions rearward of the second boss 391B. The secondthrough holes 315 are provided one at each of the left and right sidesof the inclined portion 312 corresponding to the left and right blowermount portions 390R, 390L. As shown in FIG. 14, each second through hole315 is a through hole in which a duct 50 connected to the outlet portion45 of the blower 40 is to be disposed. With this configuration, incomparison with an alternative configuration in which the duct isdisposed around the support member 20, the cushion frame F1 (seatcushion S1) can be designed to be compact in size, and the car seat Scan thus be designed to be compact in size.

As shown in FIG. 5, a portion of the plastic member 300 (inclinedportion 312) between the front hook portion 350 and the second throughhole 315 forms an insulating wall 316 that is a wall with which thehousing body 44 of the blower 40, and by extension, the impeller 42housed in the housing body 44, is covered, as viewed from above. Withthis configuration, sound insulation against noises produced by rotationof the impeller 42 can be achieved by the insulating wall 316 of theplastic member 300; therefore, the transmission of operating noises ofthe blower 40 to an occupant can be reduced. It is to be understood thatthe insulating wall 316 may be provided to cover the blower 40 in itsentirety (including the outlet portion 45) as viewed from above.

According to the present embodiment as described above, the supportmember 20 which is configured to receive a load from an occupant can bemade up of the bridging wires 100, the reinforcing wires 200 and theplate-shaped plastic member 300 with which the bridging wires 100 andthe reinforcing wires 200 are covered, as shown in FIG. 2. As a result,the load from an occupant can be received by a surface having aneffective bearing area. In addition, the support member 20 can bedesigned to have an adequate flexibility so as to be more appropriate incomparison with an alternative configuration in which the support memberis made of metal plate. Furthermore, the plate-shaped plastic member 300can be reinforced by the bridging wires 100 and the reinforcing wires200 both of which are made of metal, and thus the support member 20 canbe designed to have an adequate rigidity. With these features, the feelof seating for a person seated on the car seat S can be made morecomfortable. Since the plastic member 300 is configured to cover andretain the bridging wires 100 and the reinforcing wires 200 spaced outof contact with each other, noises which would otherwise be produced bycontact of the wires can be prevented.

According to the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each ofthe left and right first longitudinal wires 110 includes asubstantially-U-shaped bent portion 113 protruding in anobliquely-laterally-outward-and-upward direction relative to the frontor rear extension portion 111, 112; therefore, the left and right bentportions 113 can be so arranged as to sandwich and support an occupantfrom the left and right sides through the second support portions 340 ofthe plastic member 300. With this configuration, the car seat S can beprovided with an improved holding feature. On the other hand, the bentportions 113 are provided by bending portions of the left and rightfirst longitudinal wires 110; thus, in comparison with an alternativeconfiguration in which a separate member having a feature so arranged asto sandwich and support an occupant from the left and right sides isprovided, the number of parts of the car seat S can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, since the first support portions 212 of thefirst transverse wire 210 are configured to support the bent portions113 through the extension portions 111, 112 from below, the bentportions 113 can be supported by the first support portions 212 evenwhen the first longitudinal wires 110 having the bent portions 113 aredeformed downward upon seating of an occupant. As a result, excessivedownward motion of the bent portions 113, in other words, excessivelowering of the bent portions 113 can be suppressed. This serves to makeit possible to retain the holding feature provided by the left and rightbent portions 113 upon seating of an occupant.

In the present embodiment, since the first support portions 212 cansupport the both of the front and rear sides of the bent portions 113,specifically, the both of the front extension portions 111 and the rearextension portions 112, excessive lowering of the bent portions 113 upondeformation of the first longitudinal wires 110 can be suppressedeffectively. Accordingly, the holding feature provided by the left andright bent portions 113 upon seating of an occupant can be retained moresatisfactorily.

In the present embodiment, since portions of the first transverse wire210 which cross the second longitudinal wires 120 are disposed over thesecond longitudinal wires 120, the first transverse wire 210 includingthe first support portions 212 can be supported by the secondlongitudinal wires 120. With this arrangement, when the firstlongitudinal wires 110 deform downward, excessive lowering of the firsttransverse wire 210 itself can be suppressed effectively by the firstsupport portions 212. As a result, the holding feature provided by theleft and right bent portions 113 upon seating of an occupant can beretained still more satisfactorily.

In the present embodiment, since the plastic member 300 includes theplate-shaped second support portions 340 that cover the bent portions113, an occupant can be supported by a surface having an effectivebearing area, so that the feel of seating for the occupant can be mademore comfortable.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the ribs 342 provided onthe undersides of the second support portions 340 extend laterallyinward beyond the bent portions 113; therefore, the downward turn of thebent portions 113 on the laterally inner ends thereof can be suppressedby the support of the ribs 342. With this feature, the left and rightbent portions 113 can be constrained from so deforming as to get wideopen laterally outside due to a load from an occupant; therefore, theholding feature provided by the left and right bent portions 113 uponseating of the occupant can be retained satisfactorily.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the first wire portion211 so located as to cross the longitudinal wires 110, 120 is provided;therefore, the support member 20 which may receive a load from anoccupant can be reinforced. Also, the first wire portion 211 isconfigured to have the center portion 211C located on the rear side withrespect to the sciatic positions SP, so as to detour around the sciaticpositions SP; therefore, deterioration in the feel of seating for theoccupant due to a touch of the first wire portion 211 on the ischialregions and their vicinities of an occupant can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, the second wire portions 213 are furtherprovided in addition to the first wire portion 211; therefore, thesupport member 20 can be reinforced more strongly. Moreover, since thesecond wire portions 213 are located in positions rearward of the centerportion 211C of the first wire portion 211, so that deterioration in thefeel of seating for the occupant due to a touch of the second wireportions 213 on the ischial regions and their vicinities of an occupantcan be reduced.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, part of the blower 40(the front-side portion of the blower 40) attached to the support member20 is located under the front frame 12; therefore, a load from anoccupant seated on the car seat S can be received and supported by thefront frame 12 that is made of metal and thus has a greater rigidity.Accordingly, the load from the occupant can be made unlikely to beimposed on the blower 40.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the pan frame 14 has apair of left and right position restriction surfaces 14A, and thesupport member 20 includes a pair of left and right frame contactportions 370; thus, when the support member 20 in the state shown inFIG. 10 tends to move in the left or right direction to a large extent,the frame contact portion 370 of the support member 20 comes in contactwith the position restriction surface 14A of the pan frame 14 from itslaterally inner side. Accordingly, the support member 20 is restrainedfrom further move in the left or right direction; thus, the lateraldislocation of the support member 20 can be restricted.

In the present embodiment, the support member 20 tends to move laterallyalong the front frame 12 on which the front hook portions 350 arehooked; therefore, provision of the frame contact portions 370 on bothof the left and right sides of the front hook portion 350 can adequatelycause the frame contact portions 370 to come in contact with theposition restriction surfaces 14A from the laterally inner sidesthereof. Accordingly, the lateral dislocation of the support member 20can be restricted more effectively.

In the present embodiment, the frame contact portions 370 are soprovided as to protrude upward beyond the position restriction surfaces14A; therefore, even if the frame contact portions 370 involve somedimension errors, or when the pan frame 14 provided is configured to bemovable upward and downward by a tilt mechanism, the positionrestriction surfaces 14A can be caused to come in good contact with theframe contact portions 370. Accordingly, the lateral dislocation of thesupport member 20 can be restricted still more effectively.

In the present embodiment, the support member 20 includes ribs 382extending laterally inward from each outer sidewall 381 which includesthe frame contact portion 370; therefore, the rigidity of the outersidewall 381 can be enhanced. With this feature, the rigidity of theframe contact portion 370 can also be enhanced, and the lateraldislocation of the support member 20 can be restricted satisfactorily bythe contact of the frame contact portion 370 and the positionrestriction surface 14A.

In the present embodiment, the frame contact portion 370 is so providedas to protrude upward beyond the front hook portion 350; therefore, thecontact surfaces 371 can be given a sufficiently large size.Accordingly, the position restriction surfaces 14A can be caused to comein good contact with the frame contact portions 370, and the lateraldislocation of the support member 20 can be restricted moresatisfactorily.

In the present embodiment, the position restriction surfaces 14A and thecontact surfaces 371 are configured as slanted surfaces extending inobliquely-rearward-and-laterally-outward directions; therefore, incomparison with an alternative configuration in which the positionrestriction surfaces 14A and the contact surfaces 371 are configured assurfaces perpendicular to the lateral direction, an impact which theposition restriction surface 14A and the contact surface 371 will haveupon contact with each other can be reduced. Accordingly, the impactassociated with restriction of dislocation of the support member 20 canbe reduced.

Since the frame contact portions 370 are formed in the plastic member300 made of plastic, noises which would be produced upon contact of theframe contact portion 370 with the position restriction surface 14Aprovided on the pan frame 14 made of metal can be suppressed.Accordingly, the noises associated with restriction of dislocation ofthe support member 20 can be reduced.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been describedabove, the present invention is not limited to the above-describedembodiment. Specific configurations may be modified where appropriatewithout departing from the gist of the present invention as will bedescribed below. In the following description, the same components as ofthe above-described embodiment are designated by the same referencenumerals, a duplicate description thereof will thus be omitted whereappropriate, and a description of aspects different from those of theabove-described embodiment will be given in detail.

For example, as shown in FIG. 15 (a), (b), a support member 20configured according to a modified example includes left and right firstlongitudinal wires 110 and one third longitudinal wire 130 as a bridgingwire; a first transverse wire 210 as a reinforcing wire; and a plasticmember 300 with which the wires 110, 130, 210 are covered and integratedin one piece.

The third longitudinal wire 130 is disposed between the left and rightfirst longitudinal wires 110, and arranged to bridge the front frame 12and the rear frame 13. The third longitudinal wire 130 mainly includes afront-side first parallel portion 131, a rear-side second parallelportion 132, and a bent portion 133 disposed between the first parallelportion 131 and the second parallel portion 132. The first parallelportion 131 and the second parallel portion 132 are disposed parallel toone straight line L extending substantially in the front-rear direction.To be more specific, the first parallel portion 131 and the secondparallel portion 132 are disposed on the same straight line L as viewedfrom above and extend substantially in the front-rear direction. Thebent portion 133 is so bent laterally as to swerve off the straight lineL. To be more specific, the bent portion 133 includes a front portion133A so bent in a substantially U-shaped configuration as to protrudefrom the straight line L to the right side, and a rear portion 133B sobent in a substantially U-shaped configuration as to protrude from thestraight line L to the left side. As the rear end of the front portion133A and the front end of the rear portion 133B are joined to form alaterally extending straight line, the bent portion 133 is configured tohave a substantially S-shaped configuration as a whole.

The plastic member 300 includes a third longitudinal wire coveringportion 325 as part of the wire covering portion 320, with which thethird longitudinal wire 130 is covered. The third longitudinal wirecovering portion 325 has a bead-shaped configuration which protrudesupward with respect to the base portion 310 and the mount portion 330,and includes a bent portion covering portion 326 with which the bentportion 133 is covered. The plastic member 300 also includes a thickportion 317 having a thickness greater than a surrounding portion. Thethick portion 317 is formed, like the third longitudinal wire coveringportion 325, to have a bead-shaped configuration which protrudes upwardwith respect to the surrounding portion. The thick portion 317 includesa first thick portion 317A and a second thick portion 317B. The firstthick portion 317A is configured to have a substantially L-shapedconfiguration connecting two ends of a front-side opening 326A formed bythe bent portion covering portion 326 which are an end closer to thefirst parallel portion 131 and an end closer to the second parallelportion 132. The second thick portion 317B is configured to have asubstantially L-shaped configuration connecting ends of a rear-sideopening 326B formed by the bent portion covering portion 326 which arean end closer to the first parallel portion 131 and an end closer to thesecond parallel portion 132. With this configuration, a thick portionhaving a substantially rectangular closed outline shape is formed by thefront-side portion of the bent portion covering portion 326 and thefirst thick portion 317A, as well as the rear-side portion of the bentportion covering portion 326 and the second thick portion 317B;therefore, in comparison with an alternative configuration in which nosuch thick portion 317 is provided, the rigidity of the plastic member300 can be enhanced. Accordingly, the rigidity of the support member canbe enhanced.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, the seating sensor 30 is disposedinside the area surrounded by the front-side portion of the bent portioncovering portion 326 and the first thick portion 317A. With thisarrangement, the seating sensor 30 is located inside the high-rigidityportion of the plastic member 300 reinforced by the third longitudinalwire 130 and the thick portion 317; therefore, the rigidity in theattachment structure of the seating sensor 30 can be increased. Althoughthe above description refers to the bead-shaped thick portion 317 as anexample of a thick portion, this may not be an essential feature. Inother words, the thick portion may have any shape without limitation aslong as the thickness is greater than the surrounding portion. AlthoughFIG. 15 shows a particular configuration in which the third longitudinalwire 130 as an example of a bridging wire includes a first parallelportion 131, a second parallel portion 132 and a bent portion 133, thismay not be an essential feature. For example, the reinforcing wire mayinclude a first parallel portion, a second parallel portion and a bentportion, and/or the both of the bridging wire and the reinforcing wiremay include a first parallel portion, a second parallel portion and abent portion.

In the above-described embodiment, each of the left and right firstlongitudinal wires 110 is illustrated to include one bent portion 113,but this is not a required limitation; rather, a plurality of bentportions may be provided for each.

In the above-described embodiment, part of the first wire portion 211 asan example of a first reinforcing wire is illustrated as being locatedon the rear side with respect to the sciatic positions SP, but is notnecessarily so, and may alternatively be located on the front side withrespect to the sciatic positions SP. Also, the first wire portion 211may be located in its entirety on the front side or on the rear sidewith respect to the sciatic positions SP.

In the above-described embodiment, the first transverse wire 210 isillustrated as a single wire including a first wire portion 211 and afirst support portions 212 as an example of a first reinforcing wire,and two second wire portions 213 as an example of a second reinforcingwire, but this is not an essential configuration. For example, a wireconstituting a first wire portion 211 and first support portions 212 asa first reinforcing wire and two wires constituting two second wireportions 213 respectively as a second reinforcing wire may be providedas separate parts. If the wire constituting the first reinforcing wireand the wire constituting the second reinforcing wire are provided asseparate parts, the second reinforcing wire may not be made up of twowires but may be a single wire. It is to be understood that asingle-wire configuration for the first reinforcing wire and the secondreinforcing wire may serve to reduce the number of wires, and byextension can reduce the number of parts in the car seat S, incomparison with an alternative configuration in which the firstreinforcing wire and the second reinforcing wire are provided asdifferent parts.

In the above-described embodiment, each first support portion 212 isconfigured to extend along the front and rear extension portions 111,112 in the front-rear direction, and located under the front and rearextension portions 111, 112 to support the extension portions 111, 112from below, but this is not an essential arrangement. For example, thefirst support portion may be configured to extend in the lateraldirection and to cross under one of the front extension portion 111 andthe rear extension portion 112 to support the one of the extensionportions from below. Furthermore, the first reinforcing wire may notinclude a first support portion.

In the above-described embodiment, the second transverse wire 220 as areinforcing wire is illustrated to include a center portion 221 (secondportion) and a first intermediate portion 222 (third portion), whereinthe first intermediate portion 222 is nonparallel to the front inclinedportion 124 (first portion) of the second longitudinal wire 120(bridging wire), but this is not an essential configuration. Forexample, the bridging wire instead of the reinforcing wire may beconfigured to include the second portion and the third portion whereinthe third portion of the bridging wire may be nonparallel to the firstportion of the reinforcing wire. In this alternative configuration, theplastic member may preferably be configured to include a first coveringportion with which the first portion of the reinforcing wire is covered,a second covering portion with which the third portion of the bridgingwire is covered, and a connecting portion by which the first coveringportion and the second covering portion are connected, in order toincrease the rigidity of the support member.

In the above-described embodiment, the bridging wires 100 and thereinforcing wires 200 are entirely covered with the plastic member 300,but may not necessarily so, and may be partly exposed to outside. Forexample, the bridging wires 100 and the reinforcing wires 200 may be soarranged as to be spaced apart from, thus kept out of contact with eachother, and connected together by being covered with the plastic memberat their crossovers only, while the other portions such as bent portions113 may be left uncovered with the plastic member.

In the above-described embodiment, the wire covering portion 320 areconfigured to protrude upward, that is, to be disposed on the occupantside, but may not necessarily so, and may, for example, be configured toprotrude downward, that is, to be disposed on the side opposite to theoccupant side. Alternatively, the wire covering portion 320 may beconfigured to protrude upward and downward both.

In the present embodiment, the description has been given on the premisethat the frame contact portion 370 of the support member 20 and theposition restriction surface 14A of the pan frame 14 are arranged tocome in direct contact with each other, but this is not an essentialconfiguration. For example, referring to FIG. 11, rubber, felt or thelike may be disposed on either one of the contact surface 371 of theframe contact portion 370 and the position restriction surface 14A, sothat the frame contact portion 370 and the position restriction surface14A are configured to come in contact with each other through therubber, felt or the like. With this configuration, noises and impactupon contact of the contact surface 371 and the position restrictionsurface 14A can be reduced.

In the above-described embodiment, the frame contact portion 370 isprovided to protrude upward beyond the front hook portion 350, but thisis not an essential feature; for example, the frame contact portionprotruding upward may not be provided in the plastic member, and thelaterally outer side surfaces of the front hook portions may beconfigured to serve as a frame contact portion. In the above-describedembodiment, the position restriction surface 14A and the frame contactportion 370 are provided on the front sides of the cushion frame F1 andthe support member 20, but may not necessarily so, and may be providedon the rear side thereof, for example. Moreover, the positionrestriction surfaces and the contact surfaces may be surfacessubstantially perpendicular to the lateral direction. Furthermore, theframe including the position restriction surface and the frame on whichthe support member is hooked may be one and the same member.

In the above-described embodiment, the blower 40 is provided with itsfront-side portion attached to the support member 20 through the bracket60 and its rear-side portion attached directly to the support member,but this is not an essential configuration. For example, the blower as awhole may be attached to the bracket, and attached through the bracketto the support member. Alternatively, the blower as a whole may beattached directly to the support member.

In the above-described embodiment, the blower 40 is disposed under theinclined portion 312, but may not necessarily so; for example, referringto FIG. 14, the blower may be disposed under the horizontal portion 311.In the above-described embodiment, the front-side portion of the blower40 is disposed under the front frame 12, but may not necessarily so; forexample, it may be the rear-side portion as an example of part of theblower that is disposed under the rear frame 13 as another example ofthe first connecting frame.

In the above-described embodiment, the blower 40 is exemplified by thesirocco fan, but may not necessarily so, and may be a propeller fan, aturbo fan, or the like, for example. In the above-described embodiment,the car seat S is configured to cause air to be blown out by theoperation of the blower 40, but may not necessarily so, and may beconfigured to cause air to be sucked in by the operation of the blower.Moreover, the blower may be a device switchable between blowing out andsucking in of air with its function of switching the direction ofrotation of the impeller.

In the above-described embodiment, the frame member is exemplified bythe cushion frame F1, but may not necessarily so; for example, the framemember may be a back frame that constitutes a frame of the seat back S2.To be more specific, the car seat S may be configured such that aplate-shaped support member including a bridging wire, a reinforcingwire and a plastic member is disposed inside the back frame shaped likea picture frame, wherein the configuration as in the seat cushion S1 ofthe above-described embodiment is applied to the seat back S2. It is tobe understood that in this configuration, the front side of the supportmember disposed inside the back frame corresponds to “an occupant side”thereof and the rear side thereof corresponds to “a side thereofopposite to the occupant side”. It is also to be understood that in thisconfiguration, assuming that the side frames of the back frame insidewhich the support member is disposed are adopted as a pair of opposedframes, the upward-downward direction may be referred to as“perpendicular direction perpendicular to the opposing direction(lateral direction) of the pair of opposed frames”.

The car seat S in some instances may be configured such that the upperand lower frames of the back frame shaped like a picture frame insidewhich the support member is disposed are adopted as a pair of opposedframes. Furthermore, the car seat S in some other instances may beconfigured such that the front and rear frames of the cushion frameshaped like a picture frame inside which the support member is disposedas in the above-described embodiment are adopted as a pair of opposedframes. In these instances, the left and right side frames of the backframe or cushion frame may be adopted as a connecting frame. The carseat S in some instances may be configured such that the bridging wiresare slung between the rear frame 13 and the pan frame 14, for example.

In the above-described embodiment, the support member 20 is illustratedas including bridging wires 100, reinforcing wires 200 and a plasticmember 300, but this is not an essential configuration. For example,feasible configurations of the support member may not include anyreinforcing wires. Alternatively, other feasible configurations of thesupport members may include: a support member consisting of bridgingwires only, a plate-shaped support member consisting of plastic only, asupport member made of sheet metal, and the like, which are adoptable incertain circumstances.

In the above-described embodiment, the car seat S to be installed in anautomobile is illustrated as an example of a vehicle seat, but feasibleapplications may not be limited thereto; for example, the vehicle seatmay be a seat to be installed in a vehicle other than an automobile,such as a rail car, a ship, and an aircraft, etc.

Furthermore, any of the elements explained in relation to theabove-described embodiment and modified examples may be implemented incombination as desired.

1. A vehicle seat comprising: a cushion frame comprising a pair ofopposed frames disposed opposite to and separately from each other; aplate-shaped support member disposed between the pair of opposed framesand configured to receive a load from an occupant, the support memberincluding an inclined portion, the inclined portion being located in afront region of the support member, and the inclined portion extendingin an obliquely frontward-and-upward direction; a blower disposed in aposition closer to a front edge than to a rear edge of the supportmember; and a duct having a first end and a second end, the first endbeing connected to the blower, wherein the duct extends from the firstend, protruding through the inclined portion of the support member, tothe second end located on an occupant side of the support member. 2-9.(Canceled)
 10. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the ductprotrudes from a position shifted to one of left and right sides of theinclined portion as defined with respect to a laterally central positionof the inclined portion, to the second end located on the occupant sideof the inclined portion.
 11. The vehicle seat according to claim 10,wherein the inclined portion of the support member comprises two throughholes arranged in a lateral direction, each of the two through holesbeing configured to allow the duct to be passed therethrough.
 12. Thevehicle seat according to claim 11, wherein the blower is located in aposition shifted to the same one of the left and right sides of theinclined portion as the one of left and right sides on which the secondend of the duct is located as defined with respect to the laterallycentral position of the inclined portion, and wherein the duct is passedthrough one of the two through holes located in a position shifted tothe same one of the left and right sides of the inclined portion as theone of left and right sides on which the second end of the duct islocated as defined with respect to the laterally central position of theinclined portion.
 13. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein thepair of opposed frames comprise left and right side frames, wherein thecushion frame further comprises a pipe-shaped front frame and aplate-shaped pan frame which connect front portions of the left andright side frames, and wherein the blower is disposed under the panframe.
 14. The vehicle seat according to claim 11, wherein the supportmember comprises a wire extending substantially in a front-reardirection in a rear region of the support member, and wherein anfrontwardly extended line of a line extending at a center along a lengthof the wire passes through between the two through holes.
 15. Thevehicle seat according to claim 14, further comprising a seating sensorlocated between the two through holes, and wherein the frontwardlyextended line passes across the seating sensor.
 16. The vehicle seataccording to claim 1, further comprising a bracket by which the bloweris attached to the vehicle seat, and wherein the bracket has a frontedge located in a frontward position relative to a front edge of thesupport member.
 17. The vehicle seat according to claim 16, wherein atleast part of the bracket by which the blower is attached to the vehicleseat is located within a space defined by left and right planesperpendicular to a lateral direction and passing through left and rightedges of a through hole which is provided in the inclined portion of thesupport member and through which the duct attached to the blowerprotrudes.
 18. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, further comprisinga pad member having air vents formed in a surface thereof on theoccupant side and an air passage connected to the air vents, wherein thesecond end of the duct is connected to the air passage.